Tinubu Canvasses Punishment For Election Riggers

Source: THEWILL. - thewillnigeria.com
PHOTO: FORMER LAGOS STATE GOVERNOR BOLA AHMED TINUBU.
PHOTO: FORMER LAGOS STATE GOVERNOR BOLA AHMED TINUBU.

LAGOS, Dec 02, (THEWILL) - Former Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu today canvassed punishment for election fraudsters and riggers as a way of preventing future election malpractices and rigging in the country.


Tinubu spoke with journalists in Lagos ahead of the convention of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), proposing that there should be criminal investigation of all politicians, INEC officials and security agencies involved in election fraud.


He said the government of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has taken Nigeria back by more than five decades, thus calling for mass action through constitutional means to get the ruling party out of the corridor of power.


“You have a party like the Peoples Democratic Party that has been in power since 1999, today you can summarise this government and party. They have not been able to provide stable electricity, there is increasing poverty and unemployment among our youths.


“There is no steady education programme, education is regarded as the greatest weapon against poverty in this country, yet it is not making any progress. No principle of constitutionalism and federalism being adhered to, there is interference all over the place,” Tinubu explained.


The former governor also said the ruling party had brought about failures via infrastructure decay, mass unemployment, poor education and deplorable roads. He added that ACN is a party that “is consistent and steady with its principles, a party that is people focused and ready to change Nigeria.” Speaking with state house correspondents, Lagos State Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) said ACN “is set for the emergence of leaders of the party in a rancour free environment with all of the plans well laid out.” Fashola expressed optimism that all officials and leaders of the party would implement ACN plans in a transparent and democratic manner for the development of party processes from the ward to national congresses.


Fashola said going by the restoration of mandates that has taken place from 2003 to now, the single item in the electoral process is that substantially the elections have not been free and fair and the votes of the people have not counted.


The governor added that the fortitude of the candidates of the Action Congress of Nigeria has shown that those who want democracy must be ready to persevere, endure for it and struggle for it.


Fashola explained that unlike in some cases, where some parties have lost faith midway, the ACN had rekindled the process and sent a strong message to those who rig elections that no matter how long it takes, we will recover back the mandate.